Latest public health alerts

The following alerts have been issued by the University in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

Measles update and advice to students - 6 September

As of 6 September 2019 there have been 1051 confirmed cases of measles notified across New Zealand, 877 of them in the Auckland region.

Measles is a serious illness

According to the Ministry of Health, measles can be life-threatening, and about one in three of those who have been infected this year have required hospitalisation. About 30 per cent of people with measles over the age of 20 will develop complications from the disease, which may include:

• ear infections (which can cause permanent hearing loss)
• diarrhoea
• pneumonia
• seizures
• swelling of the brain – this is rare but can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Key messages for students in Auckland

The Ministry's advice is that if you are:

• over 50 years of age, it is assumed that you will have been exposed to measles as a child, and therefore are immune.
• under 50 years of age, check with your own GP as to whether there is a record of vaccination, and get a “catch-up” vaccination if there is any doubt.

Alternatively, if you have your Well Child/Tamariki Ora (Plunket) book, there may be a record of vaccination in there.

Health and Counselling Services on all campuses are providing students on campus with free vaccinations against measles. If you have any doubt about your own vaccination status please take advantage of this free service and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

If you are:

• feeling any early symptoms of measles (fever, cough, running nose, sore eyes), you should not travel, go to classes, or to any public place. Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your doctor to alert them. Do not just turn up at your GP, Health and Counselling Centre, or emergency department as you may infect others.
     
• exposed to measles and are not immune, please stay at home in quarantine and either call Healthline on 0800 611 116, or your Health and Counselling Centre (if living on campus).
     
• exposed but have immunity (through vaccination or from prior illness) you can carry on life as normal.

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Last updated on Friday 06 September 2019